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COVID-19: Italy Endures a Total Shut-Down of All Hair Salons

The COVID-19 effect: This morning, London's usually bustling Covent Garden was looking just as deserted as the pictures we've seen of many famous Italian tourist destinations in recent days.

For almost 75 years, Estetica has served the hairdressing industry, spreading its support to the four corners on the world, but our mother-ship has always been docked in Northern Italy, which was the first major European focal point of the COVID-19 pandemic.

So what is life like in Italy now and how are our Italian brothers and sisters in the hair industry being affected by this horror story which is now touches all our lives? It's not great news, I'm afraid – not by a long chalk. Two days ago, Prime Minister, Giuseppe Conte, made a live announcement on Facebook that retail and shopping outlets for goods and services - with the exception of grocery stores, supermarkets and pharmacies – were to close with immediate effect. That, of course, includes hairdressers and barbershops. So EVERY salon across the entire nation is closed for the foreseeable future – at the very least until March 25th , when the situation will be reviewed. Roberto Pissimiglia, Publisher of Estetica Network, adds: “The vast majority of hairdressers understand and share the inevitability of this restriction. Of course the economic repercussions because many will be immediately sensitive. Estetica has activated its own work unit – to give a voice, discuss proposals, encourage ideas and interactions– available to our whole industry, primarily hair salons.”

How can we even begin to imagine how that will affect their lives, businesses, financial situation and morale?

Perhaps we should start imagining - by envisaging the worst-case-scenario we can perhaps feel better equipped psychologically to face up to whatever 'reality' might prove to be in the coming weeks. This morning, Robert Cuffe, Head of Statistics at the BBC published an excellent article CLICK HERE outlining 3 reasons why the situation in Italy might not necessarily be replicated here in the UK. That's no to say we can relax and not follow all the recommendation that are being made by both the World Health Organisation and our Government's Coronavirus guidance for employees, employers and businesses.CLICK HERE

TRADE FAIR POSTPONEMENT

Measures taken so far at a national level have already led to the general postponement of professional fairs and other planned events in the industry:

Cosmoprof Worldwide Bologna: The Italian fair has changed its dates for the second time. Initially scheduled for March 12-16, 2020 and later postponed until June, it will finally take place from September 3 to 7, 2020.

Cosmobeauty Barcelona 2020: Initially scheduled for March 28, 29 and 30, 2020, the professional fair that takes place in Barcelona has rescheduled its dates to May 16, 17 and 18, 2020.

ITVA 2020, from Wella Professionals: the great international event of Wella Professionals was going to be held in Seville, from March 13 to 15, 2020. After its cancellation, the brand has informed that the winners of the International Trend Vision will be announced next Monday 23 March 2020 on their social networks and that the finalists will be invited to the Global Destination Event that will take place in Gran Canaria, from September 14 to 17, 2020.

Top Hair and Beauty Düsseldorf: These two German fairs that were postponed due to the coronavirus will finally be held from September 18 to 20, 2020.

We are a caring, loving industry. We spend every working day making people feel good about themselves. We are also a very resliant industry and, however irritating it might be to have politicians keep reminding us of the fact, we will come out the other side and things will get back to normal.

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